# CM3

Postcode district covering South Woodham Ferrers, in Chelmsford, Maldon and Braintree.

CM3 is a postcode district covering South Woodham Ferrers, in Chelmsford, Maldon and Braintree. Median sale price £465,000 in 2025.

Postcode district. Code CM3. In: [Postcodes](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode) › [CM](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm)

Approximate outline worked out by Open Index from the ONS Postcode Directory: each census output area belongs to the district that holds most of its postcodes. People, homes, recorded crime and broadband add up those output areas. House sales count every sale with an CM3 postcode. [How census figures are added up](https://openindex.co.uk/sources/population)

## Key figures

- **Median sale price: £465,000** (2025). The median price paid for a home in CM3 was £465,000 in 2025. Joint 373rd most expensive of 2,235. Source: Worked out by Open Index from HM Land Registry Price Paid Data. Published 28 September 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3#f-house-sales-median-price
- **Population: 56,315** (2021). CM3 had 56,315 usual residents at the census (ONS Census 2021). 124th most populated of 2,756. Source: Census 2021, England and Wales and Scotland's Census 2022 and Census 2021, Northern Ireland, 2021. Published 21 July 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3#f-population
- **People in radon Affected Area squares: 0%** (2022). About 0% of people in CM3 live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area. UK 44%. Source: Worked out by Open Index from the UKHSA and BGS radon atlas and census output areas. Published 1 December 2022. https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3#f-radon-affected-share
- **Gigabit broadband coverage: 80.3%** (January 2026). In CM3, 80.3% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026 (Ofcom). UK 87.8%. Source: Connected Nations (Ofcom), January 2026. Published 13 May 2026. https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3#f-gigabit-coverage

## On the map

- [Radon Affected Area by postcode district](https://openindex.co.uk/map/radon-affected-areas?place=CM3) (Worked out by Open Index · 2022): About 0% of people in CM3 live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area.
- [Sales per year by postcode district](https://openindex.co.uk/map/house-sales-per-year?place=CM3) (Worked out by Open Index · 2025): 866 homes were sold in CM3 in 2025.
- [Crime and ASB by postcode district](https://openindex.co.uk/map/recorded-crime?place=CM3) (Police recorded crime and outcomes (data.police.uk) · August 2026): Crime and anti-social behaviour for CM3.
- [Population by postcode district](https://openindex.co.uk/map/population?place=CM3) (Census 2021, England and Wales): CM3 had 56,315 usual residents at the census.

## How CM3 compares

Each postcode district against every other postcode district the measure covers.

| Measure | CM3 | Rank | Compared with |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Median sale price | £465,000 | joint 9th most expensive | 25 postcode districts, CM · 2025 |
| Population | 56,315 | 3rd most populated | 27 postcode districts, CM · 2021 |
| People in radon Affected Area squares | 0% | joint fewest people in radon Affected Areas | 27 postcode districts, CM · 2022 |
| Gigabit broadband coverage | 80.3% | 3rd lowest | 27 postcode districts, CM · Jan 2026 |

## Is CM3 safe? What police records show

In the 12 months to August 2026, police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour in CM3 at a rate of 52.3 per 1,000 people.
That compares with 77.3 per 1,000 people across the CM postcode area.
In August 2026 alone, 303 cases of crime and anti-social behaviour were recorded in CM3.
In the 12 months to August 2026, the most common types were violence and sexual offences (1,280), other crime (499) and anti-social behaviour (326).
A year earlier, the recorded crime rate in CM3 was 44.7 per 1,000 people.
Worked out by Open Index from police.uk crime records and ONS and NISRA population estimates.
Rates are per resident, so places that many people work in or visit, such as Westminster, the City of London and other city centres, have far higher rates than their residents alone would suggest.

## Deprivation in CM3, neighbourhood by neighbourhood

- Deprivation is ranked by neighbourhood, so CM3 has no single figure. Of its 33 neighbourhoods with a rank:
- Decile 4: 3 neighbourhoods
- Decile 5: 5 neighbourhoods
- Decile 6: 8 neighbourhoods
- Decile 7: 5 neighbourhoods
- Decile 8: 6 neighbourhoods
- Decile 9: 5 neighbourhoods
- Decile 10 (England’s least deprived 10%): 1 neighbourhood

Source: English Indices of Deprivation 2025. Decile 1 is the most deprived tenth of neighbourhoods in England.

## Neighbourhoods in CM3

| Area | People (census) | Recorded crime per 1,000 | Deprivation decile | Gigabit broadband |
| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Braintree 018A](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree/neighbourhood/e01021348) | 1,588 | 53.0 per 1,000 | 6 | 95.4% |
| [Braintree 018B](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree/neighbourhood/e01021394) | 1,442 | 102.0 per 1,000 | 5 | 90.6% |
| [Braintree 018C](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree/neighbourhood/e01021395) | 1,489 | 46.8 per 1,000 | 8 | 98.3% |
| [Braintree 018D](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree/neighbourhood/e01021396) | 1,370 | 27.3 per 1,000 | 7 | 83.0% |
| [Chelmsford 001A](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021538) | 2,966 | 59.2 per 1,000 | 6 | 80.6% |
| [Chelmsford 001B](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021539) | 1,373 | 36.2 per 1,000 | 5 | 87.7% |
| [Chelmsford 001C](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021540) | 2,193 | 63.5 per 1,000 | 5 | 87.9% |
| [Chelmsford 005A](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021536) | 1,591 | 76.9 per 1,000 | 4 | 89.2% |
| [Chelmsford 005B](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021537) | 2,382 | 90.2 per 1,000 | 8 | 93.4% |
| [Chelmsford 005D](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021568) | 1,600 | 36.5 per 1,000 | 8 | 32.6% |
| [Chelmsford 016A](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021533) | 2,278 | 36.0 per 1,000 | 7 | 99.2% |
| [Chelmsford 016B](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021535) | 1,770 | 47.2 per 1,000 | 5 | 31.6% |
| [Chelmsford 016C](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021569) | 1,741 | 26.6 per 1,000 | 10 | 71.9% |
| [Chelmsford 016D](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021570) | 1,940 | 46.6 per 1,000 | 9 | 29.3% |
| [Chelmsford 016E](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021572) | 1,517 | 65.9 per 1,000 | 4 | 6.9% |
| [Chelmsford 019A](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021611) | 1,406 | 27.0 per 1,000 | 9 | 75.1% |
| [Chelmsford 019B](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021612) | 1,457 | 26.0 per 1,000 | 9 | 94.3% |
| [Chelmsford 019C](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021613) | 1,866 | 125.5 per 1,000 | 6 | 73.9% |
| [Chelmsford 019D](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021614) | 1,767 | 141.2 per 1,000 | 8 | 85.0% |
| [Chelmsford 019E](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021615) | 1,521 | 25.6 per 1,000 | 8 | 98.4% |
| [Chelmsford 020A](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021605) | 1,177 | 15.8 per 1,000 | 9 | 99.4% |
| [Chelmsford 020B](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021606) | 1,620 | 40.1 per 1,000 | 6 | 98.6% |
| [Chelmsford 020C](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021607) | 1,469 | 29.0 per 1,000 | 7 | 94.9% |
| [Chelmsford 020D](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021608) | 1,129 | 31.3 per 1,000 | 6 | 75.1% |
| [Chelmsford 020E](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021609) | 1,352 | 12.4 per 1,000 | 9 | 98.7% |
| [Chelmsford 020F](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/neighbourhood/e01021610) | 1,262 | 30.4 per 1,000 | 7 | 92.8% |
| [Maldon 007A](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021873) | 1,346 | 45.3 per 1,000 | 6 | 99.7% |
| [Maldon 007B](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021874) | 1,510 | 72.9 per 1,000 | 4 | 96.4% |
| [Maldon 007C](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021875) | 1,481 | 33.6 per 1,000 | 6 | 59.3% |
| [Maldon 007D](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021899) | 1,399 | 21.1 per 1,000 | 7 | 98.1% |
| [Maldon 007E](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021900) | 1,128 | 50.0 per 1,000 | 5 | 84.9% |
| [Maldon 007F](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021902) | 1,872 | 28.1 per 1,000 | 8 | 91.0% |
| [Maldon 007G](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/neighbourhood/e01021903) | 1,652 | 31.3 per 1,000 | 6 | 87.2% |

## Your MP

- [Maldon](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/maldon): Sir John Whittingdale (Conservative), MP since July 2024. 58% of the people here.
- [North West Essex](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/north-west-essex): Mrs Kemi Badenoch (Conservative), MP since July 2024. 25% of the people here.
- [Witham](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/witham): Priti Patel (Conservative), MP since July 2024. 15% of the people here.
- [Braintree](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/braintree): Sir James Cleverly (Conservative), MP since July 2024. 1.2% of the people here.
- [Chelmsford](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/chelmsford): Marie Goldman (Liberal Democrat), MP since July 2024. 0.3% of the people here.

As of 18 October 2026. Contains Parliamentary information licensed under the Open Parliament Licence v3.0. Source: UK Parliament, Members API.

## Middle areas in CM3

[Boreham & Little Baddow](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/boreham-and-little-baddow), [Danbury & Bicknacre](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/danbury-and-bicknacre), [Great Leighs & the Walthams](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/great-leighs-and-the-walthams), [Mayland, Althorne & Cold Norton](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon/mayland-althorne-and-cold-norton), [South Woodham Ferrers North](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/south-woodham-ferrers-north), [South Woodham Ferrers South](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford/south-woodham-ferrers-south), [Witham South, Hatfield Peverel & White Notley](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree/witham-south-hatfield-peverel-and-white-notley)

## Postcode sectors in CM3

[CM3 1 (215 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-1), [CM3 2 (234 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-2), [CM3 3 (207 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-3), [CM3 4 (244 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-4), [CM3 5 (252 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-5), [CM3 6 (281 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-6), [CM3 7 (25 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-7), [CM3 8 (126 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-8), [CM3 9 (4 postcodes)](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3-9)

## Councils CM3 covers

[Chelmsford](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford), [Maldon](https://openindex.co.uk/maldon), [Braintree](https://openindex.co.uk/braintree)

## Towns in CM3

[South Woodham Ferrers](https://openindex.co.uk/town/south-woodham-ferrers)

## Postcode districts next to CM3

[CM0](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm0), [CM1](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm1), [CM2](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm2), [CM4](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm4), [CM6](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm6), [CM8](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm8), [CM9](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm9), [CM11](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm11), [CM77](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm77), [CM98](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm98), [SS11](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/ss11), [SS12](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/ss12)

## More in the CM postcode area

[All CM postcode districts](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm), [Every UK postcode area](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode)

## CM3 in brief

CM3 is a postcode district covering South Woodham Ferrers, in Chelmsford, Maldon and Braintree.
About 58,636 people lived in CM3 in mid-2024 (worked out by Open Index from ONS small-area estimates); the median price paid for a home was £465,000 in 2025 across 866 sales (HM Land Registry) and police recorded crimes and anti-social behaviour at a rate of 52.3 per 1,000 people in the 12 months to August 2026 (police.uk).
The median price paid for a home in CM3 was £465,000 in 2025.
CM3 had 56,315 usual residents at the census.
About 0% of people in CM3 live in a 1 km square that the radon atlas marks as a radon Affected Area.
In CM3, 80.3% of homes and businesses could get gigabit-capable broadband in January 2026.

## About

- Type: Postcode district
- Code: CM3
- Postcode area: [CM](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm)
- Constituency: [Maldon †](https://openindex.co.uk/constituency/maldon)
- Council: [Chelmsford †](https://openindex.co.uk/chelmsford)
- Area: 275 km²
- People, mid-2024: 58,636*
- Neighbourhoods: 33
- Output areas: 176

* People: worked out by Open Index from neighbourhood estimates, shared out by where people lived at the census (by area in Northern Ireland). This area's edges do not follow neighbourhood edges, so the figure is close but not exact.
† Best fit: the constituency, council, region and nation this postcode district mostly lies in. Its edges do not follow theirs.

## Next door

[CM9](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm9), [CM1](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm1), [CM8](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm8), [CM6](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm6), [CM2](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm2), [SS11](https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/ss11)

## Latest updates for CM3

- August 2026 house prices published: HM Land Registry and partners · Oct 2026.
- September 2026 rent published: ONS private rents · Oct 2026.
- Dental practices updated: NHS England · Oct 2026.
- Schools updated: Ofsted · Oct 2026.

The same figures as JSON: https://openindex.co.uk/v1/places/CM3

## How to cite

Source: Open Index, openindex.co.uk. Link to this page, https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3, or to one figure with its anchor, https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3#f-house-sales-median-price.

Open Index's own text and the figures it works out are licensed under CC BY 4.0 (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/). Source data keeps its publishers' licences, named with each figure. Give each figure's period and source with it.

Snapshot 2026.10.9. The HTML page: https://openindex.co.uk/postcode/cm3